14mm Pentax XL

Well, it arrived today in like new condition with all papers and case just like advertised. Now to get the chance to try it out. Today is windy and cloudy with some rain. Figures. :S
The CatsEye BlackCat 2" also came in and is a very nice piece just like the 2" Infinity Autocollimator. I checked it out and it is easy and quick to achieve the collimation with it and then the Infinity take it to the exact collimation I was looking to be able to perform.
It came with a great template for placing the triangle in the center of a mirror from 4" to 15" and two triangles. I will center spot the 10" tomorrow
and then it will be ready for shipment for assembly with the new scope.

Hi Floyd --

I was hoping to get by with just buying the 2" Infinity Autocollimator and continuing to use my Tectron tools for pre autocollimator work. Is it your impression that the other CatsEye tools are better enough that the additional expense is worth it?

Bob Polcyn

im really a novice here but do you mind if i ask you a question... ive just bought my entry telescope after hours studying here on astromart largely from the sidelines... a celestron 9 1/4 xlt nexstar gps, and yes i did get it here on astromart. anyways... if i had a choice of 3 eyepieces to eventually aim for, what would you suggest? i currently have the stock 1 1/4 diagonal and the 40mm which accompanies it. i also have a 9mm and 19mm vixen. any help is appreciated...

Hi all,
I got a chance to check out the 14mm Pentax XL last night. I was doing some planetary and Moon observing because the air was clean and stable. Jupiter was the only planet I could see from the back yard due to my large Pecan tree.
First off I was very impressed with the EP. Indeed there is a little field curvature and it shows up as a color fringe on the limb of the Moon. However if you focus that area it does disappear. It is only slightly wider than the 14mm UWA EP but the UWA is actually chromatic aberration because you can not focus and make it disappear as with the XL. So yes, the 14mm UWA has a flatter field and a wider FOV but not really a better overall view. I found the two EPs to be quite a lot a like rather than having big differences. The Moon just fit in the FOV with the 14mm XL but of course fit with room to spare in the 14mm UWA. But on axis both the EPs showed the same amount of fine detail on the Moon and Jupiter. I can not yet decide which I like better though the UWA with its FOV has some advantages the XL and its eye relief and comfortable feel as well as crisp field is pleasing to the eye. It did seem that the XP did slightly better on the moons of Jupiter as far as showing crisp disks. But the atmosphere did have its moments and it is hard to tell sometimes if that was a factor.
I don't find the XL to be lacking. The field curvature is not bad and does not extend into the FOV by many degrees. The EP is nicely sized and not a heavy as the 14mm UWA which can be a factor with smaller scopes. The eye relief is much longer than the UWA and works better for those who wear glasses.
I will keep this EP and the 14mm UWA I think. They both have their good sides and I do have a smaller scope coming.